Proud record set to slip after six of the best

England could lose much more than just a cricket match over the next three days - they could also lose one of their proudest records. The team have become accustomed to defeat, even embarrassment, since their Ashes heroics of 2005 and a little bit more gloss will be worn off if India avoid defeat here to secure only their third series win in this country.

A draw would be enough to see England lose an unbeaten Test record at home that stretches back six years and 11 series. They have won eight and drawn three of those encounters.

When Australia beat England by an innings and 25 runs at The Oval in 2001 - England's last defeat on this ground - with Shane Warne winning the man of the match award with 11 wickets, they seemed unlikely to piece together their long unbeaten run. That was the year of Labour's second election victory under Tony Blair and when Goran Ivanisevic won his first and only Wimbledon title, beating Tim Henman on the way.

The concept of Fortress England certainly seemed even more remote two years earlier, when the team was officially ranked the worst in the world. Nasser Hussain, England's captain in 2001, said this week: "An unbeaten record is very important. It certainly meant a lot to our coach, Duncan Fletcher, who always stressed the importance of achieving things.

"When we were beating the West Indies 3-0 it was important to him that we won 4-0, because we had never done that before. Just as it was so important to win that Ashes series in 2005, because it hadn't been done for such a long time. Records might not be the be-all and end-all but they are very useful for motivational purposes. And I'm sure it's something that Michael Vaughan will be stressing to the lads at The Oval this week.

"Duncan and I couldn't believe how poorly England had performed in the 90s. We changed a few things, so we would be a bit tougher and not beaten so easily, and I'm delighted that Vaughany has carried that on."

Alec Stewart, who had led England in a more difficult era, said: "You want to have a winning environment about you because it breeds confidence in the team and it breeds confidence in the individual. When you're losing all the time it's hard work, I can promise you. And usually you lose because you haven't got a great side. The current England side - or should I say the squad of players available to England in the last few years - is far better than we had available in the late 90s.

"It's a quality side now, which is why they are No2 in the world. Duncan Fletcher instilled that positive mentality, that self-belief in the players. The other big thing that came in was the continuity of selection. Players are no longer looking over their shoulders because they've had one bad Test. If you're selected now you know you will get three or four matches, minimum, and that allows you to play in a more relaxed manner."

Jimmy Ormond won the first of his two Test caps here in 2001. "What I most remember about that match is Steve Waugh scoring a hundred batting on one leg," said the Surrey paceman this week. "It was a great innings. We were well beaten in that match and that series but even then you could see a unit coming together."

The home run

Since losing to Australia in 2001 England have not lost a Test series at home